Tag Archives: Tips

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7 Productivity Tips From 18 Years of Marriage

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Today is the 18th anniversary of my wedding to the most beautiful girl I ever laid eyes on. Today is also the first time we have been apart on our anniversary. I’m returning from the Lego robotics competition that our son Ryan was participating in with his team from Cayman Prep and High School, the Cyber Rays. We will be back in Cayman this afternoon, but I thought I would reflect on how much I have learned from ‘my bride’ over the 18 years we have been married.

Tina Wedding Day

Over the years my wife has taught me to be:

  • A CARING FRIEND – Christina is one of the most caring people I know.  She has amplified this trait in me and I am better for it.  I am constantly amazed at the lengths she will go to for her friends and it has always inspired me to try harder.
  • GENEROUS – We are blessed to have developed a successful business over the years.  Christina has shown me that it is not all about us in this area.  We must have purpose and share our learnings and success where it can have the most impact in the lives of others.
  • PRECISE – I am an ‘acceptable range’ type of person when it comes to numbers or plans.  My wife is a ‘precise’ person.  For me coming into the marriage meant closing my bank accounts as they had not been balanced in years.  I knew about where I was and never bounced a check but this was not really on.  Christina to her great credit has a much more precise approach to finances.  And the books are balanced very month!
  • MORE LOVING – Christina is the most loving person in so many ways.  To me, to our kids, to our families.  Before our wedding saying ‘I love you’ was not really a part of my vocabulary outside of the relationship.  Tina changed all that in me.  Not a day goes by that this is not reaffirmed between us and between our kids and others.  Its important.  And you can be loving to more than family.  Your perspective on business changes when you approach it in a loving way.
  • PUNCTUAL – I am notoriously late to meetings and events.  Its how I’m wired… just one more quick email, just a quick added note in the blog post then I will be in the car…and arriving 10 minutes late.  Christina does not operate this way…at all.  Guess which time management system is slowly winning out?  Not mine.
  • ORGANIZED – I was never the most organized person.  My wife on the other hand is all about the lists and the plan and the eventuality   She has taught me the value of planning and organization in a more methodical way.  I’m getting better.
  • PREPARED – Linked to organization, my wife is also a great proponent for preparing for eventualities.  This normally shows itself in the doubling of recipes and cooking way more food than may be needed… in case someone happens to come over during dinner.  It rarely happens, but when it does you will not leave hungry.
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Platform Conference Recap: 8/10 – John Saddington

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The eighth speaker at the Franklin, TN, Platform Conference was visionary entrepreneur John Saddington. John is the founder of 8Bit, a self-described band of digital rapscallions. One of their products is Standard Theme, a premium WordPress theme for publishers and photographers. If you like the layout of my blog then you like Standard Theme as it’s what I use. John spoke to us on ‘Finding Opportunity in the Ordinary’ and outlined a method for looking at the things around us that can help in giving direction on what our platform could be, focus if we already know it, and ideas if we are stuck.

bigstock-Portrait-of-happy-preschoolers-13928678

As so many speakers had, John related his ‘story’ as he opened. He described being a student of engineering, breaking some rules, failing at engineering, taking two masters degrees at Dallas Theological Seminary. None of this speaks to the ‘normal’ path to net success. However, if you have been reading along on the 10 part series you will have discerned a subtle truism. There is no normal path. You have to be you, and you have to share a lot of you with others.

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Platform Conference Recap – 6/10: Andrew Buckman

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This sixth post covers the session delivered by Andrew Buckman. He spoke on the 10 things we can, or should, be doing to improve our websites. While it may seem a bit technical, this is critical stuff.  Think about it.  We have spent the first five sessions preparing a groundwork for launching a platform. After this session we will again turn to creative and distribution matters. But here in the middle we spend time gaining insight from a web professional on the common pitfalls we so often find ourselves in once we launch.  Read on.  Oh, and the photo is not of Andrew.

Shocked Computer Nerd

Andrew outlined 10 areas that he as a web design / WordPress professional sees his clients have challenges in. To give some point of reference here for my readers I will note if my blog DOES or DOES NOT comply with the advice given doing. They 10 tips are:

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Platform Conference Recap 5/10: Cliff Ravenscraft – Podcast Passion

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If you’ve ever stumbled onto podcasts on your iTunes, iPod, or Android device one name will soon jump out at you.  Cliff Ravenscraft.  The man has been podcasting for a long time.  He could be the urban dictionary definition of a prolific podcaster with well over 3,000 to his credit to date.  I will not go into all of what he does, but do yourself a favour and visit his website and listen to a few.  You will immediately be hooked as I was years ago by the passion that almost jumps from the speakers when you listen to him.  Passion as it turns out was the topic of his presentation, the fifth to our Platform Conference.  Read on.

Microphone on stage with spotlight on red curtain

Cliff’s life story is inextricably intertwined with his passion for podcasting. He was brutally honest at the conference. You get the sense that he is this honest in all he does. It is refreshingly candid. Cliff spoke of the debt he brought to his marriage. He spoke of his calling to the ministry in the Nazarene church. He spoke of the pull of his family to work in their insurance business. In essence, Cliff is a guy like you and I. Torn.  Struggling to discern the way forward…and all the while feeling the pull to pursue the road less travelled. In his case it was podcasting.

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Platform Conference Recap: 4/10 – Jeff Goins (He’s a Writer)

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Session number four in this epic 10 part ‘recap’ series was delivered by Jeff Goins speaking on ‘Starting From Scratch: How to build a platform with words, passion, and people’.  Last July he published his first book, Wrecked, a really genuine look at his coming to awareness that he should be doing more to serve in the world.  Over the years Jeff has developed the ability to speak on this with authority, and, having built his home base, he has come to accept the calling of being a writer.  His struggle reminds me of what I read in Steven Pressfield’s book, The War of Art.  Pressfield speaks of amateurs and professionals noting that “the amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.”  Jeff is a professional, not because one day his writing magically changed.  Rather, to me, it is because he is humbly committed to his art.  There is a ton of great content here so stick around.

Vintage Keyboard

Writing, and eventually writing as a professional, is the key component to building your home base.  Without it your space on the web is just a forwarding office for the content of others.  You have to do your own thing, mine the rich uniqueness of your life for content.  This is of interest to many more people than you would imagine.  Why?  Because it is genuine.  It is authentic.